Understanding Privacy and Taking Control of Your Data

min read

Data Privacy Week is January 27–31. This curated list of resources can help spark conversations about privacy and the importance of safeguarding personal information in an increasingly digital world.

Computer monitor surrounded by various other digital items (tablet, smartphone, cloud, email, etc)
Credit: Macrovector / Shutterstock.com © 2024

As the newly appointed Cybersecurity and Privacy Community Program Director at EDUCAUSE, I'm excited to lead conversations around data privacy and help advance awareness across the higher education community. To kick off Data Privacy Week (January 27–31), I've curated a collection of resources from the association and the broader community that highlight the importance of safeguarding personal information in an increasingly digital world.

"4 Ways to Understand Privacy"

By Pegah Parsi

In this video, a chief privacy officer highlights four nuanced, often overlooked dimensions of data privacy.

"EDUCAUSE QuickPoll FastFact: Should Cybersecurity and Privacy Functions Be Integrated?"

By Nicole Muscanell

In a 2024 Cybersecurity and Privacy Program evaluation survey, EDUCAUSE asked IT professionals whether cybersecurity and privacy functions should be integrated or kept separate.

"Embracing Online Data Training for Staff"

By Anna Kourouniotis

This case study details how the Office of the University Registrar at Duke University developed online training courses for staff and other members of the campus community to address meaningful and sustainable data-centric training.

"2025 EDUCAUSE Top 10, #1: The Data-Empowered Institution"

By Deborah Dent, James Frazee, Carrie Shumaker, and Tim Wrye

Addressing the fundamentals of data management, integration, and governance can have a significant impact on institutional and student success. The Data-Empowered Institution is issue #1 in the 2025 EDUCAUSE Top 10.

"EDUCAUSE QuickPoll Results: Third-Party Risk Management Practices in Higher Education"

By Nicole Muscanell

Implementing a formal third-party risk management process can help institutions manage the increasing volume and complexity of risks associated with third-party products and services.

"You Can't Have Digital Transformation Without Data Governance"

By Todd Barber, Melissa Barnett, Rachel Groenhout, David Schaefer and Edlira Stefani

If digital transformation is enabled by data and analytics and if data and analytics require data governance, you can't have digital transformation without data governance.

"Takeaways from the 2024 Horizon Report, Cybersecurity and Privacy Edition"

In this episode of EDUCAUSE Shop Talk, researchers and panelists discuss the increasing importance of privacy and security in higher education—especially with the rise of AI technologies and tools.

Additional Resources

Leveling Up Your Privacy Knowledge

EDUCAUSE hosts online and in-person events throughout the year to help community members take their data privacy knowledge to the next level.


Isaac Galvan is the Cybersecurity and Privacy Program Director at EDUCAUSE.

© 2025 Isaac Galvan. The content of this work is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 International License.